Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Details 4) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 26, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating activities:
Net (loss) available to common stockholders		$ (5,476)	$ (1,073)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		16,564	15,110
Change in value of life insurance contracts		(158)	(510)
Other changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities		(9,034)	(38)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other changes, net			6,060
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:		8,577
Net cash provided by operating activities		10,473	19,549
Investing activities:
Utility plant expenditures		(24,620)	(32,101)
Purchase of life insurance		(1,674)	(1,539)
Changes in restricted cash and other changes, net		418	108
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(25,876)	(33,532)
Financing Activities:
Short-term borrowings		22,200	3,800
Repayment of short-term borrowings		(5,000)
Repayment of long-term debt		(460)	(355)
Advances and contributions in aid for construction		2,194	1,916
Refunds of advances for construction		(1,535)	(1,621)
Dividends paid to non-affiliates		(7,758)	(6,705)
Issuance of common stock, net	105,800		105,835
Net cash provided by financing activities		9,641	102,870
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(5,762)	88,887
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		27,506	38,790
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		21,744	127,677
Parent Company
Operating activities:
Net (loss) available to common stockholders		(5,476)	(1,073)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity earnings of subsidiaries		5,681	1,213
Dividends received from affiliates		7,758	6,705
Depreciation and amortization		43	14
Other changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities		772	77
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other changes, net			(466)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:		(229)
Net cash provided by operating activities		8,549	6,470
Investing activities:
Utility plant expenditures			(324)
Changes in affiliate advances		(2,989)	(4,293)
Proceeds from affiliates long-term debt		230	300
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(2,759)	(4,317)
Financing Activities:
Short-term borrowings		2,200	3,800
Repayment of short-term borrowings		(5,000)
Changes in affiliate advances			877
Repayment of affiliates long-term borrowings			(12)
Dividends paid to non-affiliates		(7,758)	(6,705)
Issuance of common stock, net			105,835
Net cash provided by financing activities		(10,558)	103,795
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(4,768)	105,948
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		5,280	1,470
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		512	107,418
Cal Water
Operating activities:
Net (loss) available to common stockholders		(4,520)	(257)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		15,424	14,192
Change in value of life insurance contracts		(158)	(510)
Other changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities		(9,176)	(63)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other changes, net			4,853
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:		7,582
Net cash provided by operating activities		9,152	18,215
Investing activities:
Utility plant expenditures		(22,896)	(27,161)
Changes in affiliate advances		1,510	91
Proceeds from affiliates long-term debt			12
Purchase of life insurance		(1,674)	(1,539)
Changes in restricted cash and other changes, net		418	108
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(22,642)	(28,489)
Financing Activities:
Short-term borrowings		20,000
Changes in affiliate advances		356	(200)
Repayment of long-term debt		(304)	(195)
Advances and contributions in aid for construction		1,735	1,903
Refunds of advances for construction		(1,521)	(1,592)
Dividends paid to affiliates		(7,469)	(5,989)
Net cash provided by financing activities		12,797	(6,073)
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(693)	(16,347)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		20,790	34,609
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		20,097	18,262
All Other Subsidiaries
Operating activities:
Net (loss) available to common stockholders		(1,177)	(973)
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		1,124	932
Other changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities		(641)	(63)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Other changes, net			1,673
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:		1,224
Net cash provided by operating activities		530	1,569
Investing activities:
Utility plant expenditures		(1,724)	(4,616)
Changes in affiliate advances		(181)	(243)
Net cash (used in) investing activities		(1,905)	(4,859)
Financing Activities:
Changes in affiliate advances		1,304	3,768
Repayment of affiliates long-term borrowings		(230)	(300)
Repayment of long-term debt		(156)	(160)
Advances and contributions in aid for construction		459	13
Refunds of advances for construction		(14)	(29)
Dividends paid to affiliates		(289)	(716)
Net cash provided by financing activities		1,074	2,576
Change in cash and cash equivalents		(301)	(714)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,436	2,711
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		1,135	1,997
Consolidating Adjustments
Operating activities:
Net (loss) available to common stockholders		5,697	1,230
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Equity earnings of subsidiaries		(5,681)	(1,213)
Dividends received from affiliates		(7,758)	(6,705)
Depreciation and amortization		(27)	(28)
Other changes in noncurrent assets and liabilities		11	11
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Net cash provided by operating activities		(7,758)	(6,705)
Investing activities:
Changes in affiliate advances		1,660	4,445
Proceeds from affiliates long-term debt		(230)	(312)
Net cash (used in) investing activities		1,430	4,133
Financing Activities:
Changes in affiliate advances		(1,660)	(4,445)
Repayment of affiliates long-term borrowings		230	312
Dividends paid to affiliates		7,758	6,705
Net cash provided by financing activities		$ 6,328	$ 2,572